We are preparing to send water filtration systems and shelter materials to the hurricane-devastated Caribbean island.

Samaritan’s Purse is responding in Puerto Rico where Hurricane Fiona hit Sunday as a Category 1 storm, tearing through the southern and western part of the island.

Torrential rainfall—30 inches or more in some places—has triggered catastrophic flash flooding and landslides on the island. At least 1,000 people had to be rescued from raging currents. Winds of 85 mph knocked out power lines and damaged roofs. Millions of residents continue to be without electricity and thousands lack access to clean water.

Samaritan’s Purse has a team on the ground with more personnel on the way. We are preparing to airlift shelter materials and large-scale water filtration systems.

“We are partnering with local churches that we worked with after Hurricane Maria in 2017 to meet families’ physical needs while reminding them of the hope found only in Jesus Christ,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Please join me in praying for everyone impacted by this hurricane and for families who are still in the path of the storm.”

Five years ago this week, we began a response in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, making landfall as a strong Category 4 storm. Samaritan’s Purse conducted 41 DC-8 airlifts, delivering shelter materials, food, generators, and water filtration systems. We also established mobile medical units to provide basic medical care for survivors. Over the course of a year-plus, we provided relief to more than 350,000 families, over 10 percent of the population.

We partnered with more than 300 local churches during that response and plan to work with many of them again now.

“We are working with government officials, other relief organisations, and local churches to determine the full extent of the need,” said Ricky Geigel, one of our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) members already on the island.

Please pray for the many hurting families and for our teams as we respond in the wake of such devastation.